Lincoln University, a historically Black university in Pennsylvania, held its 164th commencement ceremony on May 7, 2023. (Lincoln University via Getty Images) The number of Black people living in the United States reached a new high of 49.2 million in 2024. That’s up 36% since 2000, according to a Pew Research Center analysis of government data. This group is diverse, with an increasing number who say they are of two or more races. Here are key facts about the nation’s Black population.